Job Overview We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Band 4 Associate Practitioner to join the Point of Care Testing (POCT) team within Blood Sciences and Pathology Services (BSPS) on a fixed-term basis until December 2026. This role is integral to the delivery of high-quality, efficient and reliable near-patient diagnostic testing across the organisation. The post holder will support the implementation, maintenance and monitoring of POCT services, ensuring timely and accurate test results that enhance clinical decision-making and patient care. You will work closely with clinical and laboratory staff to provide training, quality assurance and troubleshooting, while ensuring compliance with regulatory, accreditation and governance standards. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to patient-centred diagnostics within a dynamic and supportive pathology service. Main duties of the job The post holder will maintain, operate and troubleshoot POCT devices in accordance with agreed protocols, quality standards and accreditation requirements. Responsibilities include managing stock control, ordering consumables within agreed budgets, and liaising with manufacturers to resolve technical issues. The role involves effective communication with clinical teams, conducting audits, monitoring internal and external quality control, and recording and escalating non-compliance. The post holder will train users, assess competency, maintain training records and contribute to the review and updating of standard operating procedures. They will support the implementation of new POCT technologies and IT connectivity, ensure compliance with health and safety requirements, report incidents, and participate in service delivery across core and non-core hours at any BSPS POCT site. Working for our organisation Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available. Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too. We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users. Frimley Health Trust benefits on Vimeo Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities The post holder plays a key role in delivering high-quality, efficient and reliable Point of Care Testing (POCT) services across the organisation. They will support the implementation, maintenance and monitoring of POCT devices, ensuring timely, accurate and clinically reliable results to aid patient care and clinical decision-making. Responsibilities include troubleshooting equipment, managing stock and consumables within agreed budgets, liaising with manufacturers, and maintaining effective communication with clinical teams. The post holder will monitor internal and external quality control, undertake audits, record and escalate non-compliance, and support regulatory and accreditation requirements. They will train users, assess competency, maintain training records, update SOPs, support new technologies and IT connectivity, ensure health and safety compliance, report incidents, and contribute to service delivery across core and non-core hours at any BSPS POCT site. This job description is an indication of the type and range of tasks that are expected of the post holder, and other duties may be required, in line with the role and the banding. It will be reviewed and amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder to take account of changing organisational need. Person specification Qualifications Essential criteria NVQ level 3 qualification or equivalent Desirable criteria BTEC Higher level or relevant vocational qualification Knowledge & Skills Essential criteria Knowledge of IQC/EQA. Good knowledge in IT skills- Computer & working with MS office suite. Able to troubleshoot & and equipment Knowledge of training Good organisational skills. Experience Essential criteria Experience of working in a pathology laboratory. Experience of troubleshooting equipment. Desirable criteria Previous experience of working in POCT. Experience with Siemens Poccelerator, Clinisys WinPath, and Electronic Patient Records. Special requirements Essential criteria Ability to travel to all BSPS sites. Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities. Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values – Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first. We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services. We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations. Alongside estates’ investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care. Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together. Apply online now